UHF-therapy: the mechanism of action. Physiotherapy for children

Each graduate of a medical college, regardless of the specialization that he received, gave the oath of Hippocrates. The most important thing is not to damage the health of a person, but to do everything possible to help him and alleviate his suffering. However, unfortunately, medicine is a "cunning" science, and sometimes it happens that treating one disease leads to the appearance of another. This is often the result of strong drugs that have an adverse effect on certain human organs. It is for this reason that to date, modern medicine recommends using the most gentle methods of treatment, among which the so-called UHF-therapy is very popular. For sure, everyone has heard about this unique method of physiotherapy. Many even had to learn from their own experience what UHF therapy is. Photos from the physiotherapy room can even be found in the photo album of some patients. It's so interesting and unusual for a man in the street. Moreover, at present, the number of people who understand and recognize the effectiveness and benefits of this method of treatment is growing at a tremendous rate. In addition, UHF is used not only for medicinal purposes, but also for prevention. The popularity of the technique, plus everything, is due to its safety and the absence of painful sensations during the procedure.

The mechanism of action of UHF therapy

For many patients, their treating physician is assigned UHF therapy, the mechanism of action of which requires more detailed consideration. This method of physiotherapy is based on the impact on the human body of high-frequency magnetic waves, the length of which does not exceed ten meters. Apparatus for UHF therapy works on the following principle: condenser plates are placed close to certain organs and tissues of the body. It should be noted that there are two ways of placement: longitudinal and transverse.

Plates are applied in a transverse way so that the magnetic waves can penetrate all tissues of the body. This is necessary in the event that there is a deep bedding of the organ affected by the disease. If treatment of a pathology which is not deep in an organism, sufficient surface influence is necessary. In this case, a longitudinal method of placing the plates is used.

In addition, two different types can be condenser electrodes:

• Plates in the form of disks, made of metal and covered with a special insulating material;
• Sufficiently soft, rectangular plates, the area of which does not exceed 600 cm2.

Regardless of the type of capacitor electrodes, they are connected to a specially adapted generator.

It should be noted that UHF therapy is prescribed for patients not having any specific pathology, but suffering from completely different ailments. The mechanism of action can effectively fight a huge number of diseases with minimal time. The power of the current is set depending on the area to be affected. For example, to affect the cervical region or face, 20 to 40 W are needed, and for the treatment of pelvic organs, and large joints, from 70 to 100 W.

The device for UHF therapy provides a constant movement of ions and molecules. They collide with each other, due to which friction is created, and heat gets into the tissues of the body, which has a beneficial effect on microcirculation, the process of metabolism, etc.

Patients are often prescribed UHF therapy. The mechanism of action is not very complicated, but nevertheless even ordinary people would like to know how the procedure itself goes. Of course, there is no need to go deep into the essence of the problem. There is enough general information that a person, far from medicine, can visit a doctor only from time to time, if absolutely necessary. So, first of all physician-physiotherapist should disinfect condenser plates and check their serviceability. If no damage is found during the test, the procedure can be started. The physiotherapy room is equipped with special armchairs and couches, on which the patient is laid. The lower part of the patient's body is placed in such a way that it is located between the electrodes, but does not come into contact with them. A certain air gap of 2 cm in diameter should be formed in the case of a transverse method of laying the plates, and 1 cm for the longitudinal method. Physician-physiotherapist must ensure that the air gap is maintained throughout the procedure, the duration of which varies from 5 to 16 minutes. The full course of treatment is 10-15 procedures, depending on the doctor's recommendations.

The main tasks of UHF therapy

Among the main tasks, as well as the potential of UHF therapy, the following should be noted:

1. Destroy or, at least, significantly reduce the vital activity of pathogenic bacteria.
2. Slow down the production of toxic products in the foci of inflammation.
3. Strengthen connective tissue and create a kind of protective barrier.
4. To increase the effectiveness of immunological processes.
5. Accelerate the regenerative processes.

For the treatment of which diseases UHF therapy is prescribed

It has already been noted above that patients with different diseases are assigned UHF. Indications for the use of this therapy is indeed very extensive. This once again confirms the effectiveness of the methodology and the appropriateness of its use. UHF-therapy successfully fights diseases:

• Nervous system: encephalitis, phantom pain, neuralgia, cerebral circulation disorder, Raynaud's disease, polyneuritis, meningitis;
• Respiratory system: pneumonia, frontitis, bronchial asthma, rhinitis (subacute, acute and vasomotor), pleurisy, pansinusitis, sinusitis, bronchiectasis, bronchitis;
• Cardiovascular system: acute thrombophlebitis and hypertension;
• Genitourinary system: cystitis, prostatitis, salpingoophoritis, nephritis, epididymitis, pyelonephritis (acute and chronic);
• Gastrointestinal system: enteritis, paraproctitis, gastritis (acute and chronic), colitis, gastric ulcers, viral hepatitis, hepatocholecystitis;
• Musculoskeletal system: osteochondrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, subacute osteomyelitis, arthrosis, tendovaginitis, polyarthritis;
• Skin: furunculosis, mastitis, pyoderma, hydradenitis, carbuncles, postoperative infiltration, burns, purulent wounds, trophic ulcers.

Despite all the indications listed for UHF, only a doctor can prescribe the passage of therapy.

How does UHF therapy affect various body systems

With what kind of diseases UHF-therapy fights, we got acquainted. However, the question remains as to how UHF treatment works on different body systems. In this sense, it is advisable to note that this technique contributes to:

• Lowering the tone of the sympathetic nervous system and increasing the activity of the parasympathetic NA;
• Regarding the cardiovascular system: a decrease in the tone of the vessels, amelioration of the venous outflow, as well as a significant expansion of the capillaries;
• Improving the work of the gastrointestinal tract, due to the reduction in spasms to which his smooth muscles are exposed, faster separation of bile, improved metabolism, activation of motor and, respectively, secretory function;
• Reduce the level of pathogenic bacteria in the body and enhance phagocytosis.

In what cases is UHF therapy contraindicated?

Like any other medical procedure, there are some restrictions on the appointment and UHF therapy. Contraindications refer to the following cases:

• Individual intolerance to waves;
• Clearly expressed problems of the cardiac system;
• Some diseases of the vascular system;
• Weakness of blood vessels;
• The presence in the body of a patient of foreign metal bodies (dental bridges, crowns);
• Benign formations.

In the above cases, the doctor still can appoint UHF. Contraindications are not absolute, therefore the doctor can make decisions on the expediency of the procedure.

The situation changes radically if the patient is found to:

• Malignant formations or the slightest suspicion of their presence;
• Development of purulent inflammatory processes in the body;
• Hypotension, due to which blood pressure may drop drastically;
• temperature;
• hemophilia;
• Pregnancy (II-III trimester);
• bleeding.

In these cases, it is strictly forbidden to use UHF. Contraindications are absolute and the risk of serious complications is very high.

Can I use UHF therapy for the treatment of children

Despite a rather long list of contraindications, modern medicine claims that UHF therapy can be administered to children of any age, beginning with birth. The difference between treating adults and children is only the power of impact on the body. In addition, sessions of children last an order of magnitude less - 5-10 minutes. Babies are even more often prescribed UHF-therapy. The mechanism of action, however, remains the same. To date, physiotherapy for children has been successfully applied throughout the world. It helps an organism that has not yet fully formed to fight against this or that disease independently. For this, modern medical equipment of the highest quality is used. Most often doctors recommend warming up the nose with a cold. Of course, it's not so easy to make babies sit in one place. Nevertheless, the air gap rules should be observed without fail. To create the most comfortable conditions for the child, circles of the required thickness, made of flannel or felt, are fixed between the plates and the body.

Physiotherapy for children is used not only to treat various diseases, but also for prevention.

The use of UHF therapy for genyantema

Sinusitis is a disease that can not be left without proper attention. To avoid complications, they require immediate, comprehensive treatment. That's why often the ENT, among other things, appoints its patients UHF for genyantritis. However, it should be noted that this technique is one of the anti-inflammatory therapies and gives a positive effect only in the case of its combination with drug treatment. This means that simultaneously with UHF, other methods of treatment of sinusitis should be used.

Many people, not understanding the meaning of UHF therapy, are wondering about what its benefits are. Such patients would not be uncomfortable to know that, unlike the classical procedures used in the treatment of sinusitis (lavage, puncture), the effect of ultrahigh frequencies does not cause painful sensations. In addition, the electric field affects ions and molecules of tissues, due to which it is noted:

• Expansion of capillaries;
• A significant improvement in the permeability of the walls of the vessels, as a result of which the susceptibility of the organism to drugs increases;
• Activation of phagocytes, which allows cells to fight infection more actively.

In order to achieve the desired result, the procedure must be carried out in compliance with all existing rules. For example, before visiting the physiotherapy room, you should carefully clean the nasal passages from the mucus. To do this, you can use vasoconstrictive nasal drops or any sprays.

The power of influence is determined by the doctor depending on the form of the disease, and also on its severity. Sessions are held either daily, or with an interval of one day for a maximum of five minutes. The full course of treatment should not be more than 15 procedures.

Warming the nose with a cold will help prevent the development of sinusitis.

Is it possible to conduct UHF therapy at home

In medical institutions, only medical workers are allowed to work with UHF devices and have undergone special training. However, not all patients have the opportunity to visit the physiotherapy room daily for 10-15 days. Everyone has their own reasons for this - some are too busy with work at home, others can not bring the team to the workplace, young mothers have no one to leave their favorite child, disabled people can not easily get to the polyclinic themselves, schoolchildren can not miss such a long time at school . In such a situation, many people have a very reasonable question as to whether UHF therapy can be performed at home and, if the answer is yes, what is needed for this.

To clarify the situation, first of all, it should be noted that at present medicine is developing at a tremendous rate. What was difficult to imagine yesterday was no surprise today. People are used to doing themselves what they could have done in the recent past only by visiting a medical institution. For example, could someone else have recently suggested that it will soon be possible to measure blood sugar levels at home? Of course, this seemed like a fantasy, which simply was not destined to be realized. However, reality proved the opposite, and everyone had the opportunity, without much difficulty, to purchase medical equipment that helps a person solve many health problems without direct medical intervention. Surprisingly, the scientists managed to create even special equipment for UHF therapy, the use of which does not require medical education and specific knowledge. However, before applying it at home, you need to remember a few simple rules:

1. Initially, you should carefully read the instruction, which the manufacturer applies to each device it produces.
2. If possible, take a short teaching from a physiotherapist.
3. Before you start a course of physiotherapy, you should definitely consult a specialist, since UHF-therapy, as is known, has a number of contraindications, the ignoring of which can lead to disastrous consequences.
4. The number of sessions necessary for the course of treatment is determined exclusively by the doctor.

As a rule, at home, portable devices are used, which have automatic tuning. They are also equipped with a timer. Most of these devices operate at a frequency ranging from 27 to 40 MHz.

Safety rules and side effects

The use of any medical equipment requires extreme caution. The devices used in UHF therapy are not an exception in this sense. Thus, according to the rules, it is necessary:

1. Use stationary devices exclusively in shielded cabinets.
2. In the event that UHF-therapy is carried out in the ward of a medical institution, the patient should be placed at a safe distance from all metal, as well as grounded items.
3. Before starting the procedure, you should carefully inspect all the wires, paying special attention to their integrity. In the case of uninsulated wires, the session must be deferred until troubleshooting.
4. Technical and therapeutic circuits need to be tuned in resonance with each other.
5. The wires of the device must never come into contact. It is also inadmissible to directly contact the patient's body or any metallic object.
6. If there are metal prostheses or crowns in the patient's body, the device can be used, however, the dose of exposure should be reduced.

Ignoring these rules can lead to the following consequences:

1. The patient may receive burns of varying severity if the tissue pad is not dry enough or if the metal plate contacts the patient's skin.
2. If the wires of the UHF apparatus are not isolated, the patient may receive an electric shock.

How effective is UHF therapy

The effectiveness of UHF is proven by time. A huge number of eminent physicians give a very simple explanation for this fact: the UHF field poses no danger to human health and, without observing all the necessary rules, does not have any side effects. Moreover, there is a positive effect on the physiological processes occurring in the human body. If you choose the right power of influence and not make a mistake in determining the place to which it will be directed, you can achieve excellent results. For example, as a result of UHF therapy, the tone of the vessels decreases, which increases the diameter of the capillaries, increases the regional blood flow, while the venous blood flow decreases. As a result, the absorption of blood vessels increases substantially, high blood pressure comes back to normal.

The nervous system is very sensitive to the effect of an electric field. This is of great importance, since the normal vital activity of the organism largely depends on it. Through the nervous system of a person you can act on almost all organs. For example, you can prevent or reduce spasms of the stomach, gallbladder, intestines and many other vital organs.

The undeniable advantages of UHF therapy can be listed for a long time. Its merits are recognized by scientists all over the world. It not only fights well with infections, but also contributes to the overall strengthening of the body. Taking into account all of the above, it would be just stupid not to use this unique physiotherapy technique, because nature itself gives mankind a chance to live happily, forgetting about illnesses and ailments.